Concentrator for minerals



Feb. A4, 1958 A. A. JOHNSTON CONCENTRATOR FOR MINERALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed "March oom om@ N .mmm

INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A JOHNSTON BY ATTO RNEY Feb., 4, 195.8 f A, A JOHNSTON 2,822,090

CONGENTRATOR FOR MINERALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l5, 1957 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A JOHNSTON BY ATTORNEY F eb. 4, 1958 A. A. JOHNSTON 2,822,090-

CONCENTRATOR FOR MINERALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 15, 1957 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A JOHNSTON BY ATTORNEY CONCENTRATOR FOR MINERALS Arthur A. Johnston, Portland, Oreg. Application March 15, 1957, Serial No. 646,438 11 Claims. (Cl. 209-431) This invention relates to improved method and means for separating out desired material particles from a mass of material, such as crushed ore, wherein the desired material particles are the heavier particles.

In particular, this invention relates to concentrating and collecting particles of a desired and heavier mineral, such as gold, from a mass of material, such as sand, gravel or crushed ore.

The lobject of the invention in general is to lachieve a more eicient, more complete, and more rapid separation and concentration of the desired mineral particles from the mass of material being handled.

Heretofore, it has generally been considered necessary to employ considerable amounts of Water in separating out and accumulating desired mineral particles, and the results have depended largely upon the hydraulic action or travel of the Water in collecting the heavier particles and removing the lighter particles. In laddition to the fact that this familiar method requires the availability of a relatively substantial supply of water, and thus cannot be performed where an adequate supply of water is not available, there is also the objectionable feature that some very small particles of the desired concentrate Will invariably also be carried along with the ow of the water and thus such small or minute particles of the material desired Will become lost with the rest of the material which is wasted. Consequently this customary separation and concentration by hydraulic means becomes to a greater or less extent a wasteful process when the material desired to be collected includes, for example, very tine grains of gold.

A special object of the present invention accordingly is to provide improved method and means for obtaining the desired separation and concentration more satisfactorily and with the employment of only a small amount of water, or even without the use of any water, and without any dependence upon the customary hydraulic action of water upon the particles desired for concentration.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved separator and concentrator which will be simple and practical in construction and which will involve no particular problems in operation and maintenance.

An additional object is to provide an improved apparatus for the purpose desired which will make use of a plurality of individual and independently-acting separator pans operating in parallel and Without requiring the material being processed to pass through more than one pan instead of requiring the material to pass through a series of pans.

A further and particular object of the invention is to provide an improved concentrator, especially designed for the handling of materials such as that above indicated, which will accomplish the desired purpose more eiciently with the aid of novel, adjustable, predetermined, and definitely timed and measured vibrations imparted to the separator pans in addition to, but in cooperation with, the oscillation of such separator pans.

nited States Patent O ice The manner in which the above mentioned objects and other advantages are attained with the present invention, and the construction and operation of the novel concentrator, will be briefly described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

`Figure l is a sectional elevation of a concentrator embodying the present invention, the section being taken approximately on line 1 1 of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the concentrator taken from the left of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure l with a portion of the top distributor broken away for the sake of clarity;

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the plurality of similar separator pans of which the device is composed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of the separator pan of Figure 4 taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the same separator pan taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic drawings illustrating the operation of the special control means connected with the oscillating frame for producing pre` determined and controlled vibrations with the oscillatory movement.

Referring first to Figures l, 2 and 3, a rigid supporting framework, indicated in general by the reference character 10, includes a square or rectangular base 11. Two A-frames are mounted on the base at opposite sides, which A-frames include the pairs of lconverging members 12, 12, and 13, 13, the bottom ends of which members are rigidly secured to the base at the four corners of the base respectively. A pair of parallel, transverselyextending, top frame members 14, 14 are connected at their ends to the two A-frames and form the top of the framework 10.

An oscillating, pan-supporting frame 15 is mounted within the supporting framework 10. This frame includes an upper member 16, a pair of opposite side members 17, 17, and aligned bottom members 18, 18, which are rigidly joined to a supporting central inverted dished disk 19 having a concave bottom tace which bottom face preferably constitutes a portion of a spherical surface. This supporting dished disk 19 rests upon a round mounting member 20 which is centrally secured in the base 11 of the stationary framework 10 and which has a convex top face, the curvature of which corresponds to the mating bottom face of the dished disk 19.

A stub shaft 21 extends upwardly from the center of the top member 16 of the oscillating frame 15 and is rigidly secured to the top member 16. The top end of the stub shaft 21 is received in a bearing recess in a cam arm 22. The cam arm 22 is rigidly secured on the bottom of a rotating shaft 23, supported in a suitable bearing housing centrally secured in the top frame members 14. A pulley 24 is secured to the top of the shaft 23 and has a belt connection with a drive pulley driven by a motor indicated in broken lines at M in Figure 2, the motor being supported in a suitable housing 25 on the top of the supporting framework lil, as shown in Figure 2.

From the description thus far, and from Figures 2 and 3, it will be apparent that rotation of the driven shaft 23 and cam arm 22 will result in oscillation of the frame 15 about a central vertical axis. This axis passes through a fixed point the location 'of which would be at some distance below the members 19 and 20. Thus the rotation of shaft 21 causes the frame 15 to oscillate at the bottom as well as at the top, although it will be apparent from Figure 2 that the amount of such oscillation is less at the bottom of the frame 15 than at the top. Preferably the cam arm 22 is extended in a direction away from the stub shaft 21 as illustrated by the portion 22' of the cam arm in Figure 3. The purpose of this extension and extra weight lon the cam arm is to act somewhat in the nature of a dy wheel to aid in maintaining balanced regular, as well as rapid, rotation of the cam arm 22. The oscillation of the frame will be described further later on iu this specification.

A plurality of similar separator pans 26, 27, 2S, 29, Si? and 31 are mounted one above the other in the oscillating frame 15, the pans being held in place by pairs of peripheral ears 32 which are removably secured to the side members 17 respectively of the frame l5 by bolts or other suitable means. Since these separator pans are similar it will suffice to describe `one of them, namely pan 29. The pan has a bottom wall 33 (Figure l) and a top wall 34, both of which have a central circular opening of approximately the same size. rPhe bottom wall 33 slopes slightly upwardly from the outer periphery to the central opening, and a center wall Harige and restricts the discharge of material from the pan through the bottom opening. The top wall 34 is substantially at, extending in a single plane, and the central opening is surrounded by an inwardly or downwardly extending ange 36 of decreasing diameter, and thus funnel shaped. The bottom diameter' of this top flange is considerably less than the diameter of the bottom wall flange 35, and the lower end of the top flange ter minates within the bottom wall flange 35 but spaced from the same, as shown in Figure l. Consequently, any material, including Water, which is discharged down through the center in the stack of pans will not pass into or be retained by any lower pan.

A central collecting vessel 37 is positioned beneath the lowerrnest pan and thus beneath pan 31 in Figure l, to collect such centrally discharged material or overow from any or all of the pans and this collecting vessel has an outlet channel 38 through which such discharge or overflow from the pan will Ibe delivered. ln the ordinary operation of the device, as later explained, the discharge delivered from the channel 3S will constitute more or ess waste material from which most, if not all of the desired particles have been separated out. Of course this discharged material can be re-processed should conditions justify.

The pan 29 (and thus each of the other similar separator pans) has a pair of diametrically opposite peripheral upper receiving chambers 39 (see Figures 4., 5 and 6) through which the material to be separated is led into the pan. The pan also has a corresponding and similarly located pair of lower peripheral outlet chambers 40 through which the resulting desired concentrated classilied material is discharged from the pan. A shelf 41 (Figures 4 and 6) extends around the peripheral wall of the pan on the inside, leading from each receiving charnber, and material to be classied and delivered to the receiving chambers 39 iirst moves along this shelf and then, under the influence of the oscillation and vibrations to which the pan is subjected, passes over the rim of the shelf to move along the pan bottom. The heavier particles of material have a greater tendency than the others to seek the bott-om of the pan and then to move along the bottom towards the outer periphery, while the lighter particles of material show more of a tendency to move inwardly, lf an excess amount of water is used the shelf aids in preventing the characteristic hydraulic centripetal action occurring with excessive loss of the desired heavier particles, inasmuch as the device is intended to select the desired particles preferably by centrifugal or mechanical action as opposed to customary hydraulic action.

A pair of small diametrically opposite outlet ports, one of which is shown at 42 in Figure 6, lead from the periphery of the pan bottom to the outlet chambers 40 35 surrounds the center opening respectively. Since the material will be delivered into the pan more rapidly than the discharge through the small outlet ports 42 can take place, there will be an accumulation `of material in the pan over the pan bottom and at the pan periphery. At the periphery the moving material, unable to pass immediately through the small outlet ports 42, will follow largely an upwardly and inwardly swirling course around the periphery as a result of the oscillating movement of the pan. Since the shelf 41 would otherwise conne and impede the course of the material at this point, a series of openings or vents 43 are provided in the shelf. Preferably these openings are partially covered by tongues 44 which slope upwardly and obliquely in the direction of the oscillating movement (thus clockwise as viewed in Figure 4). These tongues enable the new incoming material to pass over the openings 43 while moving inwardly along the shelf and at the same time permit some of the accumulating material below the shelf to pass upwardly through the openings 43 for recirculation Within the pan.

Thus there is a constant circulation and recirculation of accumulating material within the pan in addition to the flow of new material into the pan. In the course of this circulation and recirculation of material, the heavier particles, and consequently the particles desired to be separated out from the other particles of material and concentrated, will collect on the pan bottom nearer and nearer to the periphery and gradually be discharged through the small outlet ports 42. The lighter particles, on the other hand, accumulate more and more towards the center of the pan and around the center Wall flange 35, and eventually the excess of these lighter particles will spill over the Wall flange 3S and drop down to the bottom central collecting vessel 37 (Figure l) to be discharged through the outlet channel 38 of the same.

A distributor 45 is removably secured on the top pan 26 of the stack of separator pans, This distributor consists of a closed, elongated and preferably rectangularlyshaped vessel having a large receiving intake opening 46 in the top wall (Figure 3) into which the material to be separated and classified is introduced. Near each end of the bottom wall the distributor has a plurality of smaller outlet ports (one for each of the separator pans in the stack). The outlet ports 26A, 27A 31A, located near one end of the bottom of the distributor are shown in Figure 3. Flexible tubes of rubber or other suitable material, 26B, 27B 31B, connect these outlets with the receiving chambers 39 of each of the separator pans respectively, as shown in Figure 2. Similar tubes connect the other set of outlet ports (not shown) of the distributor with the other receiving chambers (not shown) of the separator pans. In this way the material delivered into the distributor is divided up among the separate pans for separation and concentration. The oscillation of the frame 15 also causes oscillation of the distributor 45 which results in all of the material received into the distributor being discharged from the distributor through its various outlet ports and divided up among the separator pans of the stack.

Similar tubes 26C, 27C 31C lead from discharge openings in the bottom of the outlet chambers 40 of the separator pans to an annular collector pan or accumulator 47 secured on the outside of the oscillating frame 15 at the bottom. Thus Figure 2 shows the tubes 26C, 27C 31C leading from one of the outlet chambers 40 of each of the separator pans respectively into the accumulator 47. In this way the heavier particles of material, separated out from the other particles of material in each separator pan, are collected in the accumulator 47. The bottom wall 47 of this annular accumulator slopes upwardly from the outer perimeter. An overtlow channel 48 leads from an opening in the inner peripheral wall of the accumulator 47 down under the accumulator bottom and beyond the outer periphery in order that material collecting at the inside wall will pass out through this channel as the accumulator iills up. An outlet pipe 49 leads from the bottom of the accumulator adjacent the outer peripheral wall. Discharge through this pipe is controlled by a plug or valve 49'. This outlet pipe is kept closed until the processing of a batch of material through the device has been completed, whereupon this outlet is opened. The particles delivered through this outlet will include the highest percentage of the desired concentrates, since in the accumulator, as in the individual separator pans, the heavier particles will have a tendency to collect along the outer wall with the oscillation of the entire assembly.

Thus each of the separator pans 26, 27 31, acts individually and independently of the others in separating material delivered to the pan from the distributor and in passing a large proportion of the heavier particles to the accumulator while discharging rejected material over the center iiange 35 of the pan, and the accumulator in turn does some further classifying of the particles delivered to it from each pan.

Preferably some water is delivered into the distributor with the ore, sand, gravel or other particle material to be concentrated, `since the use of a limited amount of water facilitates the travel of the particles through the device. However, unlike other concentrators in common use, the use of a large flow of water is not necessary or even desired with this device since the separation and concentration of the particles are not obtained by the currents or by the hydraulic action of water but by the special movement of the particles themselves under the travel produced by the particular oscillating movement and vibrations (presently explained) to which the frame 15 and consequently the individual separator pans are subjected, and since this separation and concentration are further facilitatcd by the novel construction and arrangement of the parts in each pan. Actually, this device will function with entirely dry material and without the use of any water whatsoever. However, the employment of a limited amount of water is preferable, as previously mentioned.

The top member 16 of the oscillating, pan-supporting frame 15 carries a pair of upstanding brackets 50 and 51 (Figure 3) at its opposite ends respectively. A pair of link bars 52 and 53 of identical length have one end pivotally connected to the brackets 50 and 51 respectively. The link bars 52 and 53 are slidably mounted in a pair of stationary apertured lugs 54 and 55 respectively carried by supports (not shown) rigidly secured to the top of the stationary framework 10. The ends of the link bars 52 and 53 beyond their supporting lugs 54 and 55 are threaded and are provided with nuts 52' and 53 respectively which prevent these ends of the link bars from being pulled out from the lugs. Coil springs 56 and 57 are carried on the link bars 52 and 53 respectively and are held under compression between the stationary lugs 54 and 55 and the brackets 50 and 51 respectively. The purpose of these link bars 52 and 53 is not only to prevent any extensive rotation of the oscillating frame 15, and therewith of the separator pans carried by the frame 15 but also to enable a series of cooperating vibrations to be imparted to the frame 15 and separator pans during and as a result of the oscillation of the frame 15 and separator pans. The nature of these vibrations, the manner in which they are produced, and the centrifugal effect on solids will now be explained with reference to the diagrammatic Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10.

In these gures the reference character 23 indicates the driven, rotating shaft 23 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. As previously explained the axial position of this shaft remains fixed during the operation of the device. The reference character 21 indicates the stub shaft 21 which is mounted at the center of the top member 16 of the oscillating, pan-carrying frame 15, the circle X thus representing the path which the stub shaft 21 describes about the shaft 23 as a result of the cam arm connection 22 be- 6 tween the shaft 21 and the shaft 23, as previously described. The rotation of the shaft 23 and cam arm, and therewith the oscillatory movement imparted to the stub 4shaft 21 and pan-carrying frame 15 is assumed to be in a yclockwise direction as viewed in the figures.

The oscillation of the shaft 21 and pan-carrying 'frame 15, exerts a tendency to rotate the frame 15, including the top frame member 16, in the same direction (clockwise). The link bars 52 and 53 prevent any extended rotational movement of the frame 15 and also, with the aid of the supporting stationary lugs 54 and 55, in which they are slidable, and with the aid of the springs 56 and 57, act alternately to produce first a limited cushioned movement in the opposite (counterclockwise) direction, and then a corresponding return movement in a clockwise direction, to occur at regular intervals. Each partial rotation of the frame 15 in a clockwise direction, unlike the preceding partial rotation in counterclockwise direction, comes to an abrupt stop producing a positive vibration.

In Figure 7 the movement of the center of the top frame 15 to the position indicated at 21 produces a movement in the top member 16 to the right, as viewed in this ligure. However, the link bar 53 holds one end of the member 16 against such movement. Consequently, the opposite end of member 16 is forced to move to the right, causing the link bar 52 to slide against the force of its spring 56 for a short distance in the supporting lug 54.

When the center of the top of frame 15 moves to the position indicated at 21 in Figure 8 this same end of member 16 moves to the left but is stopped suddenly as the link bar 52 reaches the limit of its permitted travel in that direction with respect to the stationary lug 54. At this moment then both link bars 52 and 53 are holding member 16.

As the center of the top of frame 15 moves to the position indicated at 21 in Figure 9, since the link bar 52 will not permit further movement of the corresponding end of member 16 to the left, the other end of member 16 is forced to move against the force of spring 57 while the link bar 53 slides to the left in its lug 55.

When the center of the top of frame 15 moves to the position indicated at 21 in Figure l0 the end of member 16 which is connected to link bar 53 moves to the right until it is stopped suddenly when link bar 53 reaches the limit of its permitted corresponding travel with respect to lug 55.

Thus it will be noted that with this arrangement of sliding link bars and compression springs controlling the movements of the member 16, the member 16 turns a short distance in counterclockwise direction against the force of one of the springs and then moves the same distance in clockwise direction. However, the movement in the latter direction is always stopped abruptly by one of the link bars reaching the limit of its permitted travel, whereas movement in the counterclockwise direction is always cushioned by the resistance of one of the springs. 1n `other words, the abrupt stop always takes place when there is rotary movement in a clockwise direction. Washers 58 and 59, of rubber, plastic, or other suitable material, are mounted on the link bars adjacent the nuts 52 and 53' respectively.

It will also be noted that these abrupt stops or vibrations occur twice Aduring each rotation of the drive shaft 23, that is to say, these vibrations -occur twice during each oscillating cycle of the frame 15 and the separator pans which it carries. It will be apparent, however, that a greater number of such vibrations could be obtained during each cycle by increasing the number lof such link bar assemblies. For example, if an additional member were secured to the top 4of frame 15 and positioned at right angles to the member 16 and if the ends of this additional member were connected -to similarly arranged link bar assemblies, there would be four such vibrations imparted to the frame 15 during each cycle. In actual practice it has been found, however, that two vibrations during each Oscillating cycle are sufcient inasmuch as the` cycles follow in such rapid succession due to the rapid rotation which is given to shaft 23.

The oscillation of the pan-supporting frame i and separator pans causes the material delivered into the pans to move around in each pan in a general clockwise direction while `some of the material at the pan periphery will also follow a swirling course as previously mentioned, and while some of the lighter material eventually, as more material is received into the pan, will spill over the inside flange 35 of the pan and be discharged.

The oscillations of the frame and separator pans, as is well known, cause the material in the pans to move in a general clockwise direction, and the vibrations produced by the link bar assemblies act to give additional thrust to the material in the same general direction. These additional thrusts imparted to the material not only increase the `amount of movement of the material in the pan but also aid considerably in separating out the heavier particles from the light particles in the moving material due to the differences in momentum between the heavier and lighter particles as the momentum becomes affected by each impulse or vibration. Thus by increasing the relative number of such impulses or vibrations, that is by employing more link oar assemblies, it would be possible to build up the speed with which the material moves in the separator pans and thereby reduce the time required for the sorting of the material in the individual pans. In a large concentrator this would be important. In concentrators of ordinary moderate size adapted for easy transportation, two link bar assemblies will generally be adequate.

I claim:

l. In a mineral concentrator, means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, means for imparting definite regular vibrations to Said frame in the direction of the oscillation, a plurality of similar pans secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, each pan having a peripheral wall, a bottom wall and a central fianged opening in said bottom wall, a bottom central collecting vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, an inlet chamber located on the outside of said peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, an outlet chamber on the outside of said peripheral wall of each pan, a distributor carried 'at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to said inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an accumulator receptacle at the bottom of said frame, and tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle.

2. In a mineral concentrator of the Vcharacter described including an oscillating frame and means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, means for imparting definite regular vibrations to said frame in the direction of the oscillation, a plurality of similar pans secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, each pan having a peripheral Walt, a bottom wall and a top wall, a central flanged opening in said bottom wall, a central opening in said top wall, a bottom central collecting Vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, an inlet chamber located on the outside of said peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, a shelf extending along the inside of said peripheral wall leading from said inlet chamber iu the direction of oscillation of each pan, an outlet chamber on the outside of said peripheral wall of each pan, an outlet port at the bottom of said peripheral wall of each pan leading into the outlet chamber, a distributor carried at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an accumulator receptacle at the bottom of said frame, and tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle.

3. In a mineral concentrator' of the character described including an oscillating frame and means for oscillating an oscillating frame,

said frame about a substantially vertical axis, means for imparting definite regular vibrations to said frame in the direction of the oscillation, a plurality of similar pans removably secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, each pan having a circular peripheral wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, a central fianged opening in said bottom wall, a central opening in said top wall, a bottom central collecting Vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, a pair of inlet chambers located on the outside of said peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, a shelf extending on the inside of the pan leading from each of said inlet chambers of each pan in the direction of oscillation of the pan and parallel to said top wall, a pair of outlet chambers on each pan located below said inlet chambers respectively, an outlet `,ort at the bottom `of the peripheral wall of each pan leading into each of said outlet chambers, a distributor carried at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to said inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an annular accumulator receptacle at the bottom of said frame, and tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle.

4. In a mineral concentrator of the character described, including an oscillating frame and means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, means for imparting `definite regular vibrations to said frame in the direction of the oscillation, a plurality of similar pans removably secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, each pan having a circular peripheral wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, a central circular opening in said bottom wall, said bottom wall sloping upwardly from said peripheral wall to said central opening, a wall fiange around said central opening, a central circular opening in said top wall, a flange extending downwardly from said top wall opening and terminating within said bottom wall flange, a bottom central collecting vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, a pair of diametrically opposite inlet chambers located on the outside of the peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, a shelf extending along the inside of the peripheral wall of each pan leading from each of said inlet chambers in the direction of oscillation of the pan and parallel to said top wall, a pair of diametrically opposite outlet chambers on the outside of the peripheral wall of each pan, an outlet port at the bottom of said peripheral wall of each pan leading into each of said outlet chambers, a distributor carried at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to said inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an annular accumulator receptacle at the bottom of said frame, and tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 with the addition of openings in each of said shelves to permit some material in the pan beneath the shelf to pass back onto said shelf for recirculation.

6. The combi-nation set forth in claim 4 with the addition of openings in each of said shelves to permit some material in the pan beneath the shelf to pass back onto said shelf for recirculation, and tongues extending over each of said openings and sloping in the direction of travel of material on the shelf to prevent material on the shelf from passing down through said openings.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3 with said accumulator having an inwardly upwardly ysloping bottom and inner and outer peripheral walls, with an overow channel leading from said inner peripheral wall of said accumulator, an outlet pipe in the bottom of said accumulator adjacent the outer peripheral wall of said accumulator, and a control for said outlet pipe.

8. In a mineral concentrator of the character described, a supporting framework, an oscillating frame, means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of similar pans removably secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, and a pair of identical oppositely-extending link bar assemblies connecting the top of said oscillating frame at opposite sides with said supporting framework, each of these assemblies including a bar having its opposite ends supported on said oscillating frame and said supporting framework respectively, one of the ends of said bar having a hinged mounting, the other of said bar ends slidable in a support member, a spring on said bar held under compression between said hinged mounting and said support member, and means on said latter mentioned bar end beyond said support member definitely limiting the extent to which the respective side of said frame can move in one direction from said framework, whereby, upon proper adjustment of said assemblies, definite regular vibrations will be imparted to said` oscillating frame in the direction of the oscillation.

9. In a mineral concentrator of the character described, a supporting framework, an oscillating frame, means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of similar pans removably secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, a pair of oppositely-extending link bar assemblies connecting the top of said oscillating frame at opposite sides with said supporting framework, each of these assemblies including a bar having its opposite ends supported on said oscillating frame and said supporting framework respectively, one of the ends of said bar having a hinge mounting, the other of said bar ends slidable in a support member, a spring on said bar held under compression between said hinge mounting and said support member, means on said latter mentioned bar end beyond said support member definitely limiting the extent to which the respective side of said frame can move in one direction from said framework, whereby, upon proper adjustment of said assemblies, definite regular vibrations will be imparted to said oscillating frame in the direction of the oscillation, each of said pans having a peripheral wall, a bottom wall, and a central opening in said bot tom wall, a bottom central collecting vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, an inlet chamber located on the outside of the peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, an outlet chamber for each pan, a distributor carried at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to said inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an accumulator receptacle at the bottom of said frame, and tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle.

l0. A mineral concentrator including a supporting framework, an oscillating frame, means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of similar pans removably secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, a pair of identical, oppositely-extending link bar assemblies connecting the top of said oscillating frame at opposite sides with said supporting framework, each of these assemblies including a bar having its opposite ends supported on said oscillating frame and said supporting framework respectively, one of the ends of said bar having a hinged mounting, the other of said bar ends slidable in a support member, a spring on said bar held under compression between said hinged mounting and said support member, means on said latter mentioned bar end beyond said support member definitely limiting the extent to which the respective side of said frame can move in one direction from said framework, whereby, upon proper yadjustment of said assemblies, definite regular vibration will be imparted to said oscillating frame in the direction of the oscillation, each of said pans having a peripheral wall, a

bottom wall and a top wall, a central opening in said bottom wall, a liange around said central opening, a central opening in said top wall, a flange extending downwardly from said top wall opening and termination within said bottom wall liange, a bottom central collecting vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, an inlet chamber located on the outside of the peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, a shelf extending along on the inside of each pan leading from said inlet chamber in the direction of oscillation of the pan, an outlet chamber on the outside of the peripheral wall of each pan, an outlet port at the bottom of the peripheral wall cf each pan leading into said outlet chamber, a distributor carried at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to said inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an annular accumulator receptacle at the bottom of said frame, and tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle.

l1. A mineral concentrator including a supporting framework, an oscillating frame, means for oscillating said frame about a substantially vertical axis, a plurality of similar pans removably secured in said frame and stacked one above the other, a pair of identical, oppositely-extending link bar assemblies connecting the top of said oscillating frame at opposite sides with said supporting framework, each of these assemblies including a bar having its opposite ends supported on said oscillating frame and said supporting framework respectively, one of the ends of said bar having a hinge mounting, the other of said bar ends slidable in a support member, a spring on said bar held under compression between said hinge mounting and said support member, means on said latter mentioned Ibar end beyond said support member definitely limiting the extent to which the respective side of said frame can move in one direction from said framework, whereby, upon proper adjustment of said assemblies, -detinite regular vibrations will be imparted to said oscillating frame in the direction of oscillation, each pan having a circular peripheral wall, a bottom wall and a top wall, a central circular opening in the bottom wall of each pan, a wall liange around said central opening, a central circular opening in the top wall of each pan, a frusto-conical flange extending downwardly from said top wall opening having a diameter at its lower terminus smaller than the diameter of said bottom wall ange, a bottom central collecting vessel in said frame beneath the lowermost pan, a pair of inlet chambers located on the outside of the peripheral wall of each pan and discharging into the pan, a shelf extending along the inside of the peripheral wall of each pan leading from each of said inlet chambers in the direction of oscillation of the pan and parallel to the top wall of the pan, a pair of outlet chambers located below said inlet chambers respectively on each pan, an outlet port at the bottom of the peripheral wall of each pan leading into each of said outlet chambers, a distributor carried at the top of said frame, tubes leading from said distributor to said inlet chambers respectively of said pans, an accumulator receptacle at the Ibottom of said frame, tubes connected with said outlet chambers of said pans discharging into said accumulator receptacle, an outlet in the bottom of said accumulator, and a control for said outlet.

Ruegers Aug. 9, 1921 Beek Oct. 11,1949 

